Stuart Dew says he did not have an emotional reaction before his Gather Round storm off on Friday night.
The Suns were run down by Fremantle in one of the best games of the season so far, with the Dockers kicking nine of the last 13 goals.
The defeat is a crushing blow for Gold Coast which finds itself 1-4 to start the year.
It is a particularly disappointing defeat for the club after walked into the sheds at half-time leading by 23 points, having butchered several opportunities to extend their lead further.
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The 15.10 (100) to 13.12 (90) Fremantle victory is a potential season-saver for the Dockers, and it may have the exact opposite impact for the Suns.
Dew’s walk out as soon as the final siren sounded was particularly noticeable as a result of the unique Norwood Oval grandstands where he had to walk a stretch of the boundary from the dugout to reach the area where he could walk through the fence and through to the dressing rooms.
His walk was picked up by Fox Footy cameras and the significance wasn’t lost on Brisbane Lions great Alastair Lynch.
“As we see Stuey Dew has already left the arena,” Lynch said in commentary.
“And, understandably, he’s very disappointed with that result.”
Lynch earlier said it was a “shattering” loss.
Dew said after the game he was “frustrated” but insisted his decision to make a sudden exit from the field was not an emotional reaction.
“The game’s done. Not a lot to do once the game’s done. Probably not dissimilar to if I was in the box. To just get down to the change room and collect your thoughts and work out what you’re going to say here and to the players.
“No motive, just game’s over, siren’s gone. Get into the sheds and work out what’s next.”
He said the club now needs to dig itself out of a hole, as they did last year.
“It stings obviously,” he said.
“I felt like we had a good plan and obviously executed it for the majority of the night, but when we didn’t they made us pay. I think we had double the shots at half time.”
He went on to say it was similar to the way his team was beaten by Essendon earlier this year.
“If you don’t put a buffer, you leave the door open and they came through it like all good teams do,” he said.
“We’re disappointed. We’re frustrated. We certainly feel that. I think we were 2-3 this stage last year and it got to 2-5 and we dug ourselves out. That’s what we’ve got to try and do.”
Lynch, meanwhile, also said in the second half the lethal Suns forward line suddenly looked broken.
“They’re bombing it long. Their forward 50s have fallen apart at the moment.”
David Swallow finished with three goals and Jack Lukosius had a blinder to finish with 19 disposals and 12 marks.
However, his score of one goal and four behinds will still hurt.
Earlier, it was the Dockers under the pump before some Michael Walters magic kept their hopes alive.
Walters finished with four goals and put on a clinic.
Norwood became the 47th venue to host an AFL/VFL game on Friday afternoon, with its unique dimensions and picturesque setting a novelty for footy fans who have travelled from all over the country to witness a fully-sold out Gather Round.
